written by Tania del Rio; art by Bill Galvan and Bob Smith Archie Comics is tackling the popular “illustrated diary” format (think Dork Diaries or Diary of a Wimpy Kid) with this hardcover starring the Riverdale girl next door, Betty. It’s aimed at kids 9-12 years old, which is obvious. Although the stories are supposedly about Betty’s fears and struggles entering high school, she seems much younger. It’s a well-known saying that kids like to read up from their age, […]

I know a little about how these books are put together. Selection of a “master” depends on expected sales (of course), so they have to have an existing fanbase; whether the subject is willing to participate, to get all the historical art and sketchbook pages; along similar lines, possession of a substantial body of work; being a “name” to the comic market (so most often, some superhero work history); and apparently, a Y chromosome. I started thinking about this, because […]

I’ve been anticipating this entry in the TwoMorrows Modern Masters series since it was announced last spring. I don’t know why it was delayed, but I’m anticipating some lovely art examples and the typical lengthy interview. Modern Masters: Cliff Chiang is the 29th book in the series (by numbering — it’s actually 28, because Volume 23, Darwyn Cooke, never came out). Its new release date is January 29, three weeks away, and there’s a preview available at the publisher’s website. […]

Mark Crilley, dubbed “YouTube’s most popular art instructor“, is following up last year’s successful Mastering Manga With Mark Crilley with another set of lessons on how to create manga-styled comics. Mastering Manga 2: Level Up With Mark Crilley provides models for drawing basic body parts, such as eyes and other facial features, hands and gestures, and feet proportions and perspective on head shots, front, side, and three-quarter, female and male, using geometrically based guidelines the same for the entire body […]

I was a bit snarky about this title when it was announced, mentioning how there were previous books in this line covering the individual aspects of corporate comic book production (as well as a book on creating digitally). However, I realized that some of those books are more than a decade old, so it’s probably a good idea to bring out a more current volume. Then I read The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics, and I realized that what […]

The She-Hulk Diaries by Marta Acosta is fun, frothy, chick lit in the diary format made popular by Bridget Jones. Jennifer Walters keeps a journal about being the one left cleaning up after a party-girl celeb-chasing thoughtless roommate. Only the roomie is her alternate personality, She-Hulk, and they share the same body, not just the same living space. “Shulky” and her lack of accountability are responsible for Jen needing to look for a job. Most of the law firms in […]

I was cynical when the Marvel novels were announced, but Rogue Touch isn’t a bad read for a teen paranormal romance. I recommend removing your preconceptions going in, though, since it has little to do with the version of the character you might know. It’s a literal take on adolescent alienation. Like any teen, Anna Marie longs to belong, to touch and be touched by others, but her condition prevents it. The details make the book, with cogent observations about […]

About three years ago, I wrote an essay on whether Spider Jerusalem, lead character of Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson, was a superhero. Now, it’s in print in Shot in the Face: A Savage Journey to the Heart of Transmetropolitan, the newest Sequart anthology. I haven’t seen a copy yet — my contributor copies are on their way to me — so if you get one before I do, let me know what you think. In addition to […]